Rudy Carpenter and Arrelious Benn each had solid performances for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a win against the Houston Texans in the final game of the preseason and did all they could to notch a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Carpenter completed 15 of 22 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while Benn was the recipient of both touchdown throws in a game where most of the starters and key backups did not see the field.
Raheem Morris liked whathe saw out of his reserves against Houston
Carpenter knows that at best he’ll be the third quarterback on the roster, but that if he isn’t afforded a spot on the final team, another NFL team might have taken notice Thursday night.
“Truthfully, this position is crazy and anything can happen,” Carpenter said. “I just wanted to go out there and put together the best tape that I can, and if for some reason I can’t stay here, then somebody else will take a chance on me.”
Benn caught three passes for 35 yards after having just one catch in the three previous preseason games. His leaping 21-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter gave the Bucs an insurmountable two-touchdown lead.
“Opportunities come and so I have to go out and take it,” Benn said. “I know my ability, I just have to go out there and do it. Right now it is a learning process for me and there is a long season ahead and I am just taking one game at a time and one practice at a time.”
Now Carpenter and Benn must play the waiting game to see if they land a spot on the final roster when cuts are made Saturday.